Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 18, 1937 JAPAN AND THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 18 November 1937, Page 8

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 18, 1937 JAPAN AND THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE

p i i JAPAN'S case in the court of world-opinion is growing weaker . and weaker, as clay by day lire i character ol her anti-Chinese policy is clearly and more clearly revealed. Ihe Brussels Confer- j mice, which has met with a view j |to restoring peace in the I'ar! j Past, was expeclcc! to condemn i [Japan’s invasion of China, and it] i is evident that the Powers repre-; •senlecl at Brussels agree that as | lit lias been declared that the | purpose of Japan is to destroy the will and ability of China to resist, direct negotiations (with Japan) can only prolong the war in- j definitely,” and it has been re- j ported that the Conference has | adopted a resolution sweepingly | refuting Japan s defence for violating Chinese territory. Italy and the three Scandinavian countries abstained from voting, since the one is in alliance with Japan, and the other three countries fear reprisals by Germany, which also is allied with Japan. That means that with the exception of Italy, Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark the civilised nations have condemned Japan s antiChinese policy. 1 hat the verdict of the enlightened nations is justified seems to be proved by the j | reaction of the Japanese press,, which expresses indignation at ! the veiled threat that joint action may be taken against Japcin. Certainly it would not be taken by force of arms, but it might be by other means. It might take the j form of a categorical and com- ; prehensive condemnation of Japan’s breach of faith. The i civilised nations might agree to impose an economic boycott upon Japan, and if the United States were to endorse such action it ' might become difficult for Japan to maintain her recalcitrant and defiant policy indefinitely. Furthermore, there is no sign that | the Japanese Government is likely to conform to the civilised world’s opinion, by abandoning the invasion of China. Not only arc Japanese newspapers “indignant at the veiled threat” of joint action against Japan, but a particularly assertive Japanese journal demands that Britain shall pursue “a hands-ofF China policy, j since China believes Britain to be I her only hope.” Britain is not; likely to fight China's battles, un-| less America will play her part — ; which is unlikely. I hcrefore, it i is not expectecJ that Britain will J assume the role of China’s chain- j pion. From the Empire's point of : view such an abstention is ap- I preciated, because within its 1 limits there arc many important 1 problems which await solution, ( and it would be difficult, if not impossible, for Great Britain to attend to them adequately, if she ■ were giving her attention simultaneously to the difficult inter- ■ national situation which Japan is creating in the bar East. ;